modified/non-traditional khukuris?

KarlMaldensNose

KarlMaldensNose

Joined
Feb 3, 2009
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I was/am an axe guy and have recently been visiting The Dark Side of big chopper knives. I have an ESEE Junglas (and Lite Machete), Bark River Golok, and should have arriving next week a Koster Monster Nessie and Fiddleback Forge Bow Legged Chopper. Those things are a ton of fun. This dalliance has logically led me to khukuris. I find them "interesting" but much about them turns me off. First and foremost are the handles. Things I do not like about the handles: thick; wooden (at least 'blah' wood); what looks like an aweful clear and smooth laquer finish; round shape; and that ring (harhari?) that seems to flare out out of the wood somewhere in mid-handle. The other main issue that keeps me away from them is the severe forward angle of the blades.

I have actually seen some BF user pics of what look like non-traditional khukuris with handle styles that remind me of knife handles in terms of materials and shape -- kraton, micarta, etc. and not massive and round with a protrusion/flare-out at mid-handle. Alas, I wasn't interested in them at the time so I didn't pay attention to the what's, where's, who's, etc. These khuks also sported a forward angled blade but to much less a degree. And they were smaller/shorter in general, not like some of those insanely massive zombie killers I see over in HI. These things interest me. I think I could put something like this to good practical use at camp.

Does anyone know anything about these modified or non-trad khukuris that I'm describing, like who makes them, where to buy them, may be some pics, etc. Many thanks.

P.S. please don't post just to correct my spelling of khukuri;)

P.P.S. Mods, please move this thread to the HI forum if you think it's more appropriate for there and would get more attention. Thanks.

Top knife in this pic is sort of what I'm talking about.
 

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Whoa man.... that's not it at all. I have two khukris now, a Condor and a HI WWII, and both are by far the most comfortable and secure chopper handles I own. The shape lends itself perfectly for a solid grip that offers alot of control of the blade for precise chopping. And most of the HI choppers you see aren't massive zombie killers, they are measured by overall length-so you can knock 5-6 inches off of that for the handle.
 
Payette, I have small-ish hands and prefer handles on the thin side. The Junglas' handles, while not chunky by any stretch, are even pushing it for me. Don't know if you've ever held one, but the slim Bark River Golok handle is the perfect fit for me, and I think a lot of people don't like it for just that reason. I read a lot about chopper handles being ideally on the large side... the more suface area for your hand the better the grip. That logic doesn't work out for me in practical use, as I find the more I can wrap my fingers around something the more secure it feels to me... "feels" being key here... not saying it is more secure, just that it feels that way to me.:)

Ergos aside, I just find those trad khukuri handles very unappealing to look at, and I'll freely admit that the eye candy factor certainly plays a role in my knife purchases. So, my search goes on...

Hitzy,
Thanks for linkage. I like the last/bottom two. That's kinda what I'm talking about, at least in terms of shape. The first/top two are a bit too mall ninja for my tastes. While I admitted to falling for eye candy, that didn't necessarily mean garish, tacticool monstrosities.;)
 
In terms of hand size mine is smallish too and I have no problem with the handles from HI khuks. I had a problem with KI and McCurdy khuks with too large handles however.

I'd recommend getting a chiruwa ang khola of around 15 inch total. I prefer wood handles myself and satisal and dharwood is no slouch from my experience. Practically indestructible I might add and a swell chopper.
 
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